Constructing a Report with Report Generator Wizard

The Report Generator Wizard helps you to construct a report by completing a series of organised forms.

What do you want to do?

• Start the Wizard
• Use Report Wizard
• Use advanced features
• Create standard database joins

Starting the Wizard

To start the Wizard:

1. Select the Define Report option from the Report Generator Main menu.

2. Click the OK button.

   You are presented with a form with eight icons and a ring menu with the options File, Language and Help on it.

3. Select the File option and then select the Report Wizard option. Alternatively, click the Report Wizard Icon (shown with a magic wand) from the toolbar.

Using the Report Wizard

To select an output type:

1. After selecting Report Generator Wizard, a selection of Output types buttons is displayed (Display, Print, HTML, Chart, Mail and Export).

Note: In the example the Display option is chosen but, depending on which Report type is chosen, some of the tabs may differ.

2. Select the type of report by clicking the appropriate button (in this case Display) and click Next >. (Click Cancel to return to the main menu.)

   The Table form is displayed

To select a database table:

Database tables contain, in columns, the information you are producing a report from.

1. Select a Module from the drop down menu.

Corresponding database tables populate the table drop down menu.

2. Select a Table from the drop down menu and click Next >. (Click Cancel to return to the main menu.)

The Columns form is displayed.

To select columns in a database table:

Columns contain the specific data you need to extract from the database to compile your report.

1. Highlight the appropriate column(s) description in the Available Columns group box and click Add.

Note: Use search instead of the scroll bar for long lists of descriptions.

Your selection is transferred to the Current Selection groupbox and is added to your report. Use the remove button if you select something in error.

2. Click Finish > to compile your report or Next > to add Selection Criteria.

The Selection Criteria form is displayed.

To add selection criteria:

You may add selection criteria to your report. For example, you might only need to know which suppliers live in the post-code region RG14.

1. Click the Add-Condition button.

   A form is generated with three text boxes that need to be completed.

   • Column: Enables you to define the column for which you want to apply specific criteria.
   • Operator: Establishes the method of delimiting specific criteria.
   • Value: Establishes the boundaries of criteria that the report is required to work in. It may be an Alpha, Numeric or Alphanumeric code.

   Tip: Using the post-code example, the field chosen would be post code, the delimiter chosen would be = and the value would be RG14 (where you are establishing those suppliers that live in the RG14 postal area).

2. Press <Tab> on your keyboard.

The Add button is enabled.

3. Click Add to save the criteria.

The criteria of your specific query is displayed.

Tip: You can edit the criteria by either by clicking the Modify Condition or enter further criteria by clicking Add condition button.

4. Click Next >

The Sequence form is displayed.

To Sequence your data:

1. Select one of the radio buttons:
• No specific sequence - In no particular order
• Pre-defined key path - A sequence that is available
• Bespoke sort sequence - A personalised sequence that you can generate
2. After selecting a sequence, you can define in the order data is generated in:
• Ascending
• Descending
3. Click Next > or Finish to finish compiling the Report.

   The Advanced button is enabled. Click Advanced to access the Advanced Features form, or Test Report to run the report and return to the Report Wizard

Advanced Features Form

This form can be accessed by clicking the Advanced button in the Finish Tab. It consists of three check boxes and a text box. The three check boxes that you must either tick or leave blank are as follows:

• Subheadings and Subtotals

• Totals Only

• Suppress Zeroes

You also need to complete the Stop after outputting text box. This requires either a blank space, or a numeric response.

Once you are satisfied that the Advanced Features form is correct the Close button can be clicked. This will return the you to the Finish Tab.